Dreams are an enigmatic language which reveals something that cannot or must not be said openly. For Freud, this enigma concerned unconscious wishes or memories that are unacceptable for the dreamer to acknowledge as their own. In Lacan's understanding, the images and words of dreams speak of the loss and lack that lies at the centre of our being and that as such cannot be articulated. He introduced the concept of the Real to designate this void and he conceptualised the Thing that has apparently been lost as object a. The prospect of an encounter with this object is both highly exciting and extremely anxiety provoking. The object, if found, would close the gap that is essential for us to exist as separate speaking beings; closing the gap would bring us back to an original state of blissful unity in which we would, however, cease to exist as human subjects, in other words, it would lead us to death.

At the time of the pandemic the virus, which has been called by some the “invisible enemy,” makes the possibility of an encounter with the real object a reality. This engenders anxiety, and perhaps in some cases also a compelling fascination.

In her talk, guest discussant, Astrid Gessert, will particularly elaborate the idea of how dreams may function as an attempt to find a cure or solution for the loss that defines us as human subjects and what signposts we can use as analysts when working with dreams.

Contributions by participants of this webinar about their experiences of working with dreams, especially during this period of the pandemic and lock down, will be very welcome.

Please Note: Confidentiality in relation to any clinical material is highly important, especially when using electronic communication and the seminar is open to a wider audience. Please make absolutely sure that any clinical material that will be presented will not in any way make it possible to identify individual patients.

Registrants will be sent a zoom link shortly before the seminar begins.

Event takes places by zoom, Irish Standard Time (ISD, GMT) 19:00-21:00 pm.

Those with difficulty with the fee can write to freudlacaninstitute@gmail.com.

Speaker Bio: Astrid Gessert is a psychoanalyst and a member of CFAR (Centre for Freudian Analysis and Research, London) and the College of Psychoanalysts-UK. She has worked for many years in the NHS, in private practice and as a supervisor. She is a regular contributor to the CFAR annual public lecture and training programme, lectures and facilitates at other psychoanalytic organisations. Her recent book is an edited collection titled, Obsessional Neurosis: Lacanian Perspectives (Routledge, 2018). She features in a short series of videos about psychoanalysis made by the Freud Museum London.